President Barack Obama visits Florida's Gulf Coast

The first family dashed to the Florida Panhandle on Saturday so President Barack Obama could play pitchman — Gulf Coast beaches are clean and open for business — and assure residents his government won't abandon them now that the busted well has stopped spewing oil.

President Barack Obama waves as he walks with his daughter Sasha after arriving at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Fla., Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. The first family, absent Malia who is at summer camp, arrived in the Florida Panhandle region for a brief weekend trip, part vacation, part sales pitch, as the president seeks to boost a tourism industry reeling after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle talk with daughter Sasha as they walk to a waiting helicopter after arriving at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Fla., Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. The first family, absent Malia who is at summer camp, arrived in the Florida Panhandle region for a brief weekend trip, part vacation, part sales pitch, as the president seeks to boost a tourism industry reeling after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama greet people at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Fla., Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010, upon their arrival. The Obamas are spending the weekend in Florida. The first family, absent Malia who is at summer camp, arrived in the Florida Panhandle region for a brief weekend trip, part vacation, part sales pitch, as the president seeks to boost a tourism industry reeling after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and daughter Sasha, greet people at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Fla., Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010 upon their arrival. The first family, absent Malia who is at summer camp, arrived in the Florida Panhandle region for a brief weekend trip, part vacation, part sales pitch, as the president seeks to boost a tourism industry reeling after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, center right and left, participate in a roundtable discussion at the U.S. Coast Guard Panama City District Office in Panama City, Fla, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. Seated at table are Panama City Mayor Scott Clemons, from left, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, the Obamas, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, Capt. Gary Jarvis, and Carolyn Holman, owner of Captain's Table. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, hidden, and daughter Sasha, walk over to greet people at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Fla, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010, upon their arrival. The Obamas are spending the weekend in Florida. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Barack Obama is greeted by officials after arriving at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Fla., with his wife Michelle and daughter Sasha Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. The first family, absent Malia who is at summer camp, arrived in the Florida Panhandle region for a brief weekend trip, part vacation, part sales pitch, as the president seeks to boost a tourism industry reeling after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. (AP Photo/Dave Martin) (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

First lady Michelle Obama gives daughter Sasha a hug at they and President Barack Obama have lunch at Lime's Bayside Bar and Grill at the Marriott in Panama City Beach, Fla., Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. The Obamas are spending a weekend in Florida, part vacation, part sales pitch, as the president seeks to boost a tourism industry reeling after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Barack Obama deplanes from Air Force One with his wife Michelle Obama and daughter Sasha after arriving at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Fla., Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010, for a brief weekend trip, part vacation, part sales pitch, as the president seeks to boost a tourism industry reeling after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and daughter Sasha have lunch at Lime's Bayside Bar and Grill in Panama City Beach, Fla., Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. The Obamas are spending a weekend in Florida, part vacation, part sales pitch, as the president seeks to boost a tourism industry reeling after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Air Force One with President Barack Obama aboard taxis past Marines guarding the presidents waiting helicopter as he arrives at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Fla., Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010, for a brief weekend trip, part vacation, part sales pitch, as the president seeks to boost a tourism industry reeling after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

President Barack Obama greets airmen after arriving at Tyndall Air Force Base with his wife Michelle, left, in Panama City, Fla., Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010, during a brief weekend trip, part vacation, part sales pitch, as the president seeks to boost a tourism industry reeling after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

President Barack Obama greets airmen after arriving at Tyndall Air Force Base with his wife Michelle, from left, and daughter Sasha in Panama City, Fla., Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010, for a brief weekend trip, part vacation, part sales pitch, as the president seeks to boost a tourism industry reeling after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

A gracious Sasha Obama, daughter of President Barack Obama, shakes hands with officials as she and her mother Michelle Obama join the president in greetings after arriving at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Fla., Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama greet members of the U.S. Coast Guard while visiting the U.S. Coast Guard Panama City District Office in Panama City, Fla, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. The Obamas are spending the weekend in Florida. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Lime's Bayside Bar and Grill at the Marriott in Panama City Beach, Fla., where President Barack Obama, First lady Michelle Obama and daughter Sasha are luncing, is seen Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. The Obamas are spending a weekend in Florida, part vacation, part sales pitch, as the president seeks to boost a tourism industry reeling after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Retired Marine Sgt. 'Gunny' Akuna and his daughter Mei-Ling Frishkorn await the arrival of President Barack Obama at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Fla., Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. The President traveled to Florida with family for a brief weekend trip, part vacation, part sales pitch, as the president seeks to boost a tourism industry reeling after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

President Barack Obama with Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, right, makes a statement at the U.S. Coast Guard Panama City District Office in Panama City, Fla, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010, about recovery in the Gulf of Mexico in the wake of the BP oil spill. "I'm here to tell you that our job is not finished, and we are not going anywhere until it is," Obama assured residents. He also said he "absolutely" would plunge into waters of the Sunshine State, that absorbed 200 million gallons of oil. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and daughter Sasha walk to Marine One at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Fla, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. The first family, absent Malia who is at summer camp, arrived in the Florida Panhandle region for a brief weekend trip, part vacation, part sales pitch, as the president seeks to boost a tourism industry reeling after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Barack Obama waves after arriving at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Fla., Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. The first family, absent Malia who is at summer camp, arrived in the Florida Panhandle region for a brief weekend trip, part vacation, part sales pitch, as the president seeks to boost a tourism industry reeling after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

President Barack Obama arrives at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Fla., Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. The first family arrived in the Florida Panhandle region for a brief weekend trip, part vacation, part sales pitch, as the president seeks to boost a tourism industry reeling after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

President Barack Obama waves as he walks with his daughter Sasha after arriving at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Fla., Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. The first family, absent Malia who is at summer camp, arrived in the Florida Panhandle region for a brief weekend trip, part vacation, part sales pitch, as the president seeks to boost a tourism industry reeling after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

President Barack Obama stops to answer a reporter's question about his position on the mosque at ground zero at the U.S. Coast Guard Panama City District Office in Panama City, Fla, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. Obama weighed in forcefully on issue at a White House event Friday, saying a nation built on religious freedom must allow it. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Barack Obama looks at the crowd after speaking at the U.S. Coast Guard Panama City District Office in Panama City, Fla., Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. (AP Photo/Andrew Wardlow, Pool)

President Barack Obama greets members of the U.S. Coast Guard at the U.S. Coast Guard Panama City District Office in Panama City, Fla., Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. (AP Photo/Andrew Wardlow, Pool)

President Barack Obama talks to the crowd after greeting members of the U.S. Coast Guard at the U.S. Coast Guard Panama City District Office in Panama City, Fla, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. The Obamas are spending a brief weekend, part vacation, part sales pitch, in Florida as the president seeks to boost a tourism industry reeling after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Barack Obama is greeted by officials after arriving at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Fla., with his wife Michelle and daughter Sasha Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. The first family is Florida for a brief weekend trip, part vacation, part sales pitch, as the president seeks to boost a tourism industry reeling after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama head out of a roundtable discussion at the U.S. Coast Guard Panama City District Office in Panama City, Fla, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. The Obamas are spending the weekend in Florida. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Barack Obama and first Lady Michelle Obama greet members of the U.S. Coast Guard after making a statement at the U.S. Coast Guard Panama City District Office in Panama City, Fla, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. The Obamas are spending the weekend in Florida. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Barack Obama, First lady Michelle Obama and daughter Sasha talk with Mike Gorton, top, as they lunch at Lime's Bayside Bar and Grill in Panama City Beach, Fla., Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010. The Obamas are spending a weekend in Florida, part vacation, part sales pitch, as the president seeks to boost a tourism industry reeling after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, partially visible second from right, and daughter Sasha, right, greet people at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Fla, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010, upon their arrival. The Obamas are spending the weekend in Florida. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)